Electrical racing device



p 1963 A. v. MILLER ETAL 3,103,360

" ELECTRICAL RACING DEVICE INVENTORS Arc/le l/M/l/er Car/ M u Her By%/a% Sept. 10, 1963 A, V.-MILLER ETAL 3 0 ELECTRICAL RACING DEVICE FiledMarch 16, 1961 s sheets-sheet 2' INVENTORS Arc/leg V. Mi/ler Carl MullerAtiys.

Sept. 10, 1 963 A. v. MILLER ETAL 3,103,350

ELECTRICALRACING DEVICE Filed March 16,1961 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORSArc/leg L M/Y/ef Car/ Mu//er obstructions. only directional forces beingthose produced by the driv- United States Patent O I ELECTRICAL RACINGDEVIC Archey' V. Miller, E. 1928 Liberty, and Carl Muller,

N. 2427 Standard, both of Spokane, Wash.

Filed Mar. 16 1961,Ser. No. 96,133 4' Claims." (Cl. 273-86) Thisinvention relates to a novelelectrical racing device. The presentinvention relates to an amusement device wherein magnetic objects aremoved about an orbital path along a 'smoot htoppedtable, there-being noinechanical connection between the objects being moved and thedrivingdevice which forms the'present invention.

' tion by utilizing suitable controls which are conventional and willnot be described in theffollowing disclosure.

It is aifirst object of this invention to provide an. electrical racingdevice wherein there 'is" no direct mechanical connection betweenthemoving objects and :the driving mechanism. The only force exertedibetWeenthe two systems is that produced by the respective magneticfields involved in the separate mechanical arrangements.

It is, another object of this inventionto provide a magnetic supportwhich will move the driving magnets in a non-circular orbit so as tobetter simulate actual track conditions. The objects which aremoved'across the table in this non ci-rcular locus are nothindered by.any fixed The track itself is "perfectly smooth, the

ing magnets. j

It is another object of this invention to provide random movement of thedriving magnets while utilizing a single -.-drive unit and drive shafttozpropel the. entire mechanism. ay insuring random'movement of themagnets the present invention guarantees that no" onesobject at theoutside of study of the followingidisclosure takenfin conjunction withthe?accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a pre- =ferred-form oftheinvention; 'It is to beunderstood that this form is exemplary and is:not intended to limit or restrict the invention except'as it is limitedby the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE :1 a vertical sectional view through the supporting table showingthe vgracingidevice as it would ac- -tually' be installed;

FIGURE 21s a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1', showingthe main driving components;

FIGURE 3 is a to'pxplan view of the track showing the tabletop partiallybroken away;

FIGURE 4 is an .enlargedsectional view of the driving apparatus asse'en.along .line 44 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE .an' enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in-FIGURE 2with the motor being broken away.

This inventioncontemplates an-electrical racing device which would benormally mounted in a suitable cabinet i-(notshown). Thedeviceconsistsof a table top '10 which is suitably supported in ahorizontal plane. Thetop surface of the table top is perfectlysmooth andneed not beobstructed by any fixed \abutm-ent's. 'However, to simu .late an actualtrack any suitable miniature fence or other device may .be installed onthis topsuriface of the table top 10. The material useern theconstruction of the 3,103,360 Patented Sept; 10, 1963 .2. j 7 table top19 must be non-magnetic and is preferably made of wood. Mounted-on thetop surface of thetable top 10 are a plurality of minature object-s11.The design of the objects 11 is immaterial. They may consist of smallracing autos, as shown, or may be miniature horses,v dogs or othersuitable racing elements; Each ofthe autos shown in FIGURE 1 is providedwith a suitable magnet 12 which isdesignedto beengaged by the magneticfield created below the table top 10. t

The drive mechanism for this racing device is propelled by a singleelectronic motor 13 which is suitably fastened to any fixed base so asto be positioned in fixed, relation with respect to the table top 10.The drive shaft 14 of the motor 13 extends vertically upward. The axisofthe shaft 14 is therefore perpendicular to the plane of the table topIt). The main support arm 15 for the driving apparatus is suitably keyedto the shaft =14. This arm 15 is therefore revolved about the axis ofthe shaft =14 when the motor 13is energized by a suitable controlapparatus (not shown). A'sprocket 16 i-s'mounted concentrically aboutshaft 14 and is provided with a central aperture larger than shaft 14so-as to insure proper; clearance be tween these two elements.Thesprocket 16 is fixed to a pair of posts 17 which lock the sprocket16'to the fixed housing of the motor 13. Thus the-sprocket 16 is fixedrelative to the table top 10 and is mounted in a position concentricwith the driving shaft '14. At the outboard end ofthe arm 15 isrotatably journalled a pivot shaft 21. The axis of shaft 21 is parallelto the axis of shaft 14 but is radially displaced therefrom. The lowerend of shaft 21 has fixed thereto a driven sprocket '18 whose diameteris one half that of the fixed sprocket 16. The two sprockets 16 and 18areencompassed by a suitable chain 20. Due to the relative sizes ofsprockets 18 and 16 the shaft 21 will revolve about its axis twiceduring each revolution of the arm 15 about the axis of shaft 14. It isthis relation which provides'the oval track locus utilized in thepropelling of the objects '11. e

At the upper end of shaft 21-is fixed an eccentric arm 25. This arm 25has a length less than that of arm-.15. Rotatably journa'lled about 'theintermediate portion of shaft 21 is a pinion 22 which is fixed to arm 15by a suitable bracket 23. The pinion 22 meshes with a larger gear 24which is joined by a friction clutch 29 to a shaft axis due to theaction of sprocket 18 and the flipper arm 27 will also be revolved aboutthe axis of Shaft 26 due .to the action of pinion 22 and gear 24. Clutch29 prevents damage to flipper arm 27 due to jamming At the outer end ofthe eccentric arm 25 is formed an upstanding boss '30. Boss 30' is.recessedto receive a vertical shaft 31. The shaftS-l is spring biasedrbya compression spring 32 which forces the shaft 31 m an upward direction.Shaft 31 is capped by asuitable spherical joint 38 which'is fixed to.thelower surface of a large circular disk 28. The (disk 28. is the firstelement of the magnet support. Fixed to the [lower surface of the disk28 are three downwardly protruding abutments 34. These abutments 34extend downwardly to a point where they intersect the locusof theflipper arm 27. Theflipper arm 27 is designed to strike the abutments34- in a' random fashion to thereby spin the disk 28 about the axis ofjoint '33. The upper surface of the large disk 28 is provided with fourconventional caster units 3 5 which bear against the under surface ofthe table top 10. The casters35'are suitably swivelled so as to ridealong the under surface of the table top 10 regardless of the positionof thedisk 2.8. The casters 35 are maintainedin this position against'the table top due to the action of spring. 32. Rotatably mounted on thelarge disk 28 are four small 36 which have three magnets 37-fixedto eachof them. The magnets 37 are suitably aligned so as to attract themagnets 11 imbedded Within the driven objects 11. The disks 66' are freeto spin about their axes inresponse to the eccentric driving-action ofthe arms 25 and 15.

T-heoperationof this invention isquitesimple and can be fully understoodby a: study of the accompanying drawings, 1 Asmotor 1'3 drives shaft 14the arm will a revolve in a circular orbit. At the same timethe'arm '25willrevolve about its axis twice dun'ng each revolution of arm 15 aboutthe axis of shaftl l. This-will be suitahly timed. relative to the tabledimensions so as toinsure thatthe arm will be fully extended at thefarthest length of the table mp1s and will be fully contracted along itsnarrow side. ,Suc'ha relation can be seen in FIGURE '3 wherein arrow 3%designates the direction of motion of'shaft'ld'and arm 15. The randommovement of flipper arm 27 will result in its contact with the abutments34 at periodic intervals to thereby spin the'large, disk-Zflabout thesubstantially vertical axis of thespherical joint 33. j The magnets 37be maintained in-a position adjacent the table top 10 due' by one cannotforetellwhichobject '11 will be in a leading position relative to theremaining objects 11 at any time. In order to simulate arace one needonly toset the number of revolutionsof arm 15' at a predeterminedquantity dependentupon therace conditions desired. Bydrawing a finishlineacross'flhe top surface of the table top 10*, oneoan then determinethe leading 7 object 11 at the completion of the predetermined number ofrevolutions' of shaft 14 and arm 15. Each revolution of arm 15 willconstitute a single lap ofthe race across the table top 10.

The present invention maybe modified without disturbing thebasic'concepts embodied in the above em bodiment; For instance theparticular locus'utilized in this device may bevariedby changing therelative sizes of sprockets lfi and 18. If desired, a circular track maybe utilized, inwhich case the arm 25 will be maintained in a fixedposition by using, a sprocket 18- of the same size as the fixed sprocket16. The most important concept in this invention is the random motion ofthe magnet 37v which is insured by the positive drive to-flipper arm 27and its random striking of theabutments 34.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. An amusementdevice,comprising:

a table top having a plane upper surface;

' tive thereto; i i

a plurality of magnetic objects independently posF-t ported "thereon;

i 'oned on said plane uppersurface and movab ly supa rotatable armjourna'lled on said base about a fixed v vertical axis;

' abase positioned beneath said table top and fixed relaan eccentric armjournal'led on said rotatable armf' 7 about an axis radially spaced fromsaid fixed axis, a said eccentric arm being located above said rotatablearm;

' drivemean'sl' mounted on said base operatively connected to saidrotatable arm adapted tot rotate said rotatable arm, about said fixedaxis;

g j 4 I V a first sprocket fixed to'said base adjacent said rotatablearm and centeredrabout said fixed axis; I a second sprocket fixed tosaid eccentric'arm and cert tered about the axis of said eccentric armon said rotatable arm, said second sprocket having a difierent numberoiteeth than does said first sprocket; an endless chain operativelyengaged about said firs and second sprockets;

a magnet support rotatably journalled on said eccentric arm for movementabout a substantially vertical axis, said support being positionedadjacent the underside ofsaid table top;

a plurality of magnets mounted on said support di- 'rectly adjacent theunderside of said table top;

a plurality oil-downwardly extending projections fixed to said supportand radially positioned from the central axis of said support;

a flipper arm assembly rotatably extending about a 7 verticallaxisintermediate the rotatable taxisof said 7 eccentricarm and said magnetsupport, said flipper arm having one end adapted to intersect the locusi a of said projections as saidzmagnet support revolves about itscentral axis,

a first gearfixed to said flipp r arm assembly;

' and a second gear fixed to saidi'second sprocket and 3' being in meshwith said first gear, whereby rotation of said rotatable arm will resultin relative motion V of said eccentric-arm and said rotatable armandsimultaneous relative motionwbetween said flipper arm assembly andsaid eccentric arm. 7 2. An amusement device,.com.prising:- r

a table top having a plane horizontal top surface; a plurality ofmagnetic objects independently positioned on said surface and movablysupported thereon;

a magnet support located adjacent the underside of said table,top,'saidmagnet support ,being located in a planc substantially parallel, to saidplane upper surface; i

a plurality of magnets carried by said magnet support a intermediatesaid table top' and said magnetsupport;

" the magnetic field of said magnets being suflicient'to exertanattractive force on said magnetic objects when the individual magnetsarevertically positioned below the individual magnetic'objects;

carrier means operatively supporting said/magnet support, said magnetsupport being rotatably journalled thereon about a substantiallyvertical central axis,.

said carrier means being moun-tedon a fixed base and being adapted 'tocarry said magnet support about a predetermined locus in a planeparallel to saidtabletop surface; 7 downwardly projecting abutmentsfixed' tothe lower surface of said magnet support, said abutinents beingradially spaced from the centerof the support and beingcircumferentially spacedtfro m' one another; 7

and flipper means frotatably mounted about a vertical 1 axis on saidcarrier'means;'said flipper means including a protruding portion adaptedto intersect therotational paths of said abutments about the center ofsardmagnetsupport, said carrier means including 1 drive meansoperatively connected to said fiipper means adapted to efiect therotational'motion of said flipper means'abou't its vertical'axis 1 v 3.The device as defined in claim '2, wherein said mag;

net support comprises:

'a first disk rotatably supported on said carrier means by a universalfitting spring biased in anupward y direction toward said tabletop; V Vr ,a pluralityof circumferentially spaced/casters mounted onflthe uppersurfaceof said first disk, said casters, a 1 being adapted to ride onthe undersidefof said table x 1 a plurality of V g mounted on said firstdisk-about circumferentially smaller. disks independently. rotatably '7spaced vertical axes, said magnets being fixed to the upper surfaces ofsaid smaller disks;

said abutments being fixed to the lower surface of said first disk.

4. An amusement device, comprising:

a table top having a plane upper surface; 1

a base positioned beneath said table top and fixed relative thereto;

a plurality of magnetic objects independently positioned on said planeupper surface and movably supported thereon;

a rotatable arm journalled on said base about afixed vertical axis;

an eccentric arm journalled on said rotatable arm about an axis radiallyspaced from said fixed axis, said eccentric arm being located above saidrotatable arm;

drive means mounted on said base operatively connected to said rotatablearm adapted to rotate said rotatable arm about said fixed axis; i

a magnet support located adjacent the underside of said table top andmounted on said eccentric arm for rotation about an axis parallel toandradially offset [from the axis of said eccentric arm on saidrotatable arm;

a plurality of magnets carried by said magnet support means operativelyconnected to said rotatable arm, said base and said eccentric adapted toeifect rotation of said eccentric arm about its axis on said arm inresponse to motion of said rotatable arm about said fixed axis; 1 i pand means on said eccentric arm opei'atively engageable with said magnetsupport adapted '-to effect random rotational movement of said magnetsupport" relative to said eccentric arm in response to rotationalmovement of said eccentric arm said rotatable arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS264,258 Dimmick Sept. 12, 1882 2,668,389 Morrison v Feb. 9, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS Great Britain Sept. 29 1949 relative to

4. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE, COMPRISING: A TABLE TOP HAVING A PLANE UPPERSURFACE; A BASE POSITIONED BENEATH SAID TABLE TOP AND FIXED RELATIVETHERETO; A PLURALITY OF MAGNETIC OBJECTS INDEPENDENTLY POSITIONED ONSAID PLANE UPPER SURFACE AND MOVABLY SUPPORTED THEREON; A ROTATABLE ARMJOURNALLED ON SAID BASE ABOUT A FIXED VERTICAL AXIS; AN ECCENTRIC ARMJOURNALLED ON SAID ROTATABLE ARM ABOUT AN AXIS RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAIDFIXED AXIS, SAID ECCENTRIC ARM BEING LOCATED ABOVE SAID ROTATABLE ARM;DRIVE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROTATABLEARM ADAPTED TO ROTATE SAID ROTATABLE ARM ABOUT SAID FIXED AXIS; A MAGNETSUPPORT LOCATED ADJACENT THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TABLE TOP AND MOUNTED ONSAID ECCENTRIC ARM FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO AND RADIALLYOFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF SAID ECCENTRIC ARM ON SAID ROTATABLE ARM; APLURALITY OF MAGNETS CARRIED BY SAID MAGNET SUPPORT INTERMEDIATE SAIDTABLE TOP AND SAID MAGNET SUPPORT, THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF SAID MAGNETSBEING SUFFICIENT TO EXERT AN ATTRACTIVE FORCE ON SAID MAGNETIC OBJECTSWHEN THE INDIVIDUAL MAGNETS ARE POSITIONED BELOW THE INDIVIDUAL MAGNETICOBJECTS; MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROTATABLE ARM, SAID BASEAND SAID ECCENTRIC ADAPTED TO EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID ECCENTRIC ARMABOUT ITS AXIS ON SAID ARM IN RESPONSE TO MOTION OF SAID ROTATABLE ARMABOUT SAID FIXED AXIS; AND MEANS ON SAID ECCENTRIC ARM OPERATIVELYENGAGEABLE WITH SAID MAGNET SUPPORT ADAPTED TO EFFECT RANDOM ROTATIONALMOVEMENT OF SAID MAGNET SUPPORT RELATIVE TO SAID ECCENTRIC ARM INRESPONSE TO ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ECCENTRIC ARM RELATIVE TO SAIDROTATABLE ARM.